I have been reading these boards for a few weeks, and decided to post here because everyone gives such good advice.
I won an auction, and the seller sent me this e-mail.
"Hi! You were the winning bidder on my auction, and I'll need to know your mailing address. I'll forward my address as soon as I hear from you. Thanks!"
I have 40 positive ratings, no negs, and no neutrals. Shouldn't the seller send me his address first? That is the way I do it. At first I was a little offended, but I got over it. I am going to send my information, of course, but I feel if someone has positive feedback (like I do), then that person should be trusted. Not treated like I am not going to send t What do you think?
posted on September 5, 2000 08:20:53 AM new
wbfan...this is a technique that some sellers use in order to make sure they touch base with the buyer. Many buyers do not respond to the EOA notices and leave the sellers hanging waiting for a response. So this way the buyer HAS to reply in order to get the seller's mailing address.
I don't think this has anything to do with your feedback. It's probably just their SOP with all their customers. Nothing personal meant.
posted on September 5, 2000 08:21:05 AM new
Based on what I've read on these boards, some Ebay sellers do that to make sure buyers confirm the transaction. Some sellers have a problem with sending an EOA, then not hearing from the buyer until the payment shows up in the mail (no email to confirm). Don't take it personally!
By the way, that's not how I do things, I'm just happy to get paid. If a buyer doesn't confirm, I don't get worried about it (until it's been about 3 weeks), but I prefer if they confirm the transaction. That way I have something to go back to in case their payment information is illegible or missing something.
posted on September 5, 2000 08:23:19 AM new
They problably could have worded it differently but I don't think it was meant as an offense. And unfortunately we as a society and especialy on the internet we tend to read things into messages that are not there.
I send my bidders a similar message but state it this way.
You are the winner of the above named auction. Please send me your mailing address so I can figure out your total. Than when they do and I send them another message I tell them the options of payment and if they chose to send a check or money order instead of paying thru paypal, xcom or billpoint I give them my address.
posted on September 5, 2000 08:24:31 AM new
I've heard some people say they do that. Personally, I don't think any communication that is potentially offensive to a customer is worth it, no matter what the reason behind it. Many fine, paying customers have sent me payment in a timely manner without having so much as acknowledged my EOA.
posted on September 5, 2000 08:24:53 AM new
Sorry to reply to my own post. Just wanted to add that I meant to put a question mark after Unreasonable, because I only halfway think that the seller was unreasonable, and wanted to get opinion.
posted on September 5, 2000 09:16:10 AM new
When I am selling I ask for the buyers address first so that I may calculate the cost of postage and to get a shipping label ready.
If a seller has any International customers, knowing the buyers location is important to determine the cost of postage.
I do not believe that the seller does not trust you, it is just the method that has worked for them in their communications with the buyers.
I have over 300 positives (most for buying)and I would not be offended if this happened to me.
posted on September 5, 2000 09:29:03 AM new
I always ask for my bidder's info first, but I do not hold back any information--unless I am dealing with a foreign bidder and need to calculate shipping. Not giving out information slows down the payment process. It's not a good practice in my opinion.
posted on September 5, 2000 10:04:41 AM new
I always include my name and address in every e-mail message I send to the buyer until the payment is received. I do this for the convenience of those buyers that have a slow computer. Forcing a buyer to wade through multiple e-mail messages to find your address is self-defeating. Do whatever you can to make it easy for them to put the payment in the mail.
posted on September 5, 2000 10:16:56 AM new
I think as a seller it makes perfect sense to want to know the shipping address right up front. I received at least 10 payments with no auction information attached, no return address on the envelope etc.
Having the buyer email you the address right away is a good way to prevent this sort of thing. The email is a little "short", but not rude or anything. When and if I start selling again, I have seriously considered using this method myself.
posted on September 5, 2000 10:29:23 AM new
Something to consider is that as a seller it matters little if you would be at all bothered by emails like that, but if any potential customers would be.
James.
posted on September 5, 2000 10:50:13 AM new
Buyers who are also Sellers would be totally understanding of it I think. I wouldn't be offended at all by it. I'm not sure I see what is so rude about the email in question. Any Online type of order cannot be completed without a shipping address, and while I agree that selling on eBay is not quite the same thing, it isn't out of line to request a shipping address before sending the final details and total for a sale. Some buyers just look for something to get mad over.
Perhaps this seller has had trouble lately with incomplete or missing addresses, or packages gone missing due to illegible handwriting.
posted on September 5, 2000 12:09:21 PM new
As mentioned already, sellers want to make certain to establish a communication base. Also, Seller needs Country and Zip code (if applicable) in order to forward total Shippping cost. And, some Bidders want item sent to a different address and need to let Seller know. As a Seller, I too, nicely ask for it. As Bidder, I volunteer the information...
******************** Shosh http://www.oldandsold.com/cgi-bin/auction.cgi?justdisp&Rifkah
posted on September 5, 2000 12:17:31 PM new
I send a short and sweet EOA. I ask for their address information so that I can provide accurate actual shipping. I do include my full name and address. I have found this is the easiest way for me to keep track of things. I do not want a line of boxes sitting around with no labels (even though I do write what the item is on it) because that is when I start to make mistakes, put labels on wrong packages, etc. This also allows me to personalize my shipping costs emails. It helps both of us to realize we are actually dealing with real live people!
posted on September 5, 2000 05:40:06 PM new
Meya, I'm not "looking for something to get mad over." LOL. I said I was a little offended at first, but I got over it. The seller was just looking out for himself, because maybe he has been burned. He may have read my good ratings, but someone with equally good ratings could have scammed him. Or maybe that is just how he handles all transactions. I know I am a good E-bayer, but the seller doesn't know me from Adam (or in my case, Eve!) I prefer that a seller send his address when he asks for mine, but oh well!
posted on September 5, 2000 06:07:42 PM new
i usualy request the bidders address as well as thier method of payment, but not always, my theory is this is BUISNESS not your sunday school, you made a contract to buy so buy, and or sell......
every 20 seconds in america a woman is giving birth:SHE MUST BE FOUND AND STOPPED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.................................................................
posted on September 5, 2000 06:14:22 PM new
Oh wbfan, I didn't mean to imply that you were looking for reason to "get mad".
I just know from my experience on both sides of the selling and buying fence that many times the other party in the sale is "holding their breath" as they await the response email. I've had great, good, and plain bad emails from buyers and sellers with great feedback, so you just never know.
There are some people who approach ever aspect of their lives as if they are expecting a fight. Many of them buy and sell on eBay.
I was just adding my 2 cents worth to the discussion.
edited to make "plan" into "plain"
[ edited by Meya on Sep 5, 2000 06:15 PM ]
posted on September 5, 2000 09:15:21 PM new
"Shouldn't the seller send me his address first? That is the way I do it. At first I was a little offended..."
~ ~ ~
There are 15 MILLION registered users on eBay, many of them SELLERS.
I certainly hope you do not get personally offended each time you purchase something from an eBay Seller, and come to find out, "That is [NOT] the way I do it."
NOBODY gets my address until they send me theirs, except for exceptional circumstances - and in those, they send me their ZIPCODE, so I can verify that they are a USA address.
Perhaps you have never received any payments from foreign countries, when bidders wanted to pay US shipping rates, LOL - and then get to wait another month for the additional postage monies.
Perhaps you do not sell many items; when I am active in sales, I always know the name, address, auction number, EOA, etc/etc/etc of every single item sold - and it gets delivered to the USPS within hours of my receiving payment -- as it already TOTALLY ready to go, completely packaged, labeled and all insurance forms filled out.
However, back to my original point:
EVERY SELLER ON EBAY DETERMINES THEIR OWN TOS.
eBay allows TOTAL FREEDOM in the terms of service that each seller adapts or develops.
That is how this venue works, and with MILLIONS upon MILLIONS of sellers, you will come upon similar numbers of differences and oftentimes, things that you might consider idiosyncracies, but they work for the seller, and as long as they are legal, they are FINE by eBay.
It is part of the charm of Pierre Omidyar's original vision.
(...spelled l-i-b-e-r-t-a-r-i-a-n, which is bound to be very startling, even uPsetting to many people, and it looKs like, horrors, ANARCHY to them, LOL! )
posted on September 5, 2000 10:15:05 PM new
The reason this registered business bobbysoxer requests the purchaser's address or zipcode before she gives out hers is so that she may confirm the person doesn't live in the same state (sales tax, you know) and doesn't live outside the USA. and other things.
This is to cut down on the confusion if the buyer takes upon themselves to calculate the total themselves and send payment through the snail mail service.
PayPal no problem just send me Mo' Money, but with a money order, personal check or international mo, that is another matter.
Been there done that. When a buyer asks for mine first, I apply customer service with a smile and explain the above to my value customer.
I think I will go into KMart tomorrow and tell them my TOS on returning items and cashing checks. How dare they ask me for my ID? LOL!!!
posted on September 5, 2000 10:46:15 PM new
Tons of sellers respond as such. No big deal. I usually contact the seller first anyway, so the issue does not crop up much. What ever it takes to complete a transaction, do it (as long as it does not mean spending more money). Some people are jerks and will jerk you around. Amateurs. Get on to the next sale.
